[Joint Press Release] Distinct Characteristics of Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Dysfunction Identified

A research group led by Professor Kenzo Tsuzuki of the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, and Professor Emeritus Takaki Miwa of the Department of Otolaryngology, Kanazawa Medical University, in collaboration with Showa Medical University, the University of Tokyo, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Mie University, and Nagoya City University, which have established an outpatient clinic specializing in olfactory sensation, has revealed that olfactory dysfunction caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection is clinically different from conventional viral olfaction. (COVID-19) infection differs from conventional viral olfactory dysfunction in its clinical features.
The study revealed that COVID-19-induced olfactory dysfunction occurs more frequently in young people than conventional post-common cold olfactory dysfunction, and although the degree of dysfunction is less severe, it is associated with a higher frequency of qualitative olfactory dysfunction, heterosmia. The pathogenesis of COVID-19-induced olfactory dysfunction was also found to be different between the delta and omicron strains.
The results of this study indicate that the pathophysiology and mechanism of neuropathological disorders caused by viruses differ depending on the virus species and strain, and are expected to contribute to the treatment of patients with olfactory disorders including COVID-19 in the future.

For more information, please see the press release.